AFRICA: At least 13 people were killed in two separate attacks in Nigeria’s Benue state, an area wracked by clashes between Christian farmers and nomadic cattle herders.

AMERICAS: An estimated 25 Guatemalans were killed and nearly 300 injured in the most violent eruption of Fuego volcano in more than four decades.

ASIA: North Korea’s top three military officials have been removed from their posts, a move analysts said could support efforts by the young leader to tighten control on the army ahead of a summit with the US.

EUROPE: New hardline Italian interior minister Matteo Salvini said that “common sense” was needed to stop the country from becoming “Europe’s refugee camp” as he visited a migrant center in the south.

MIDDLE EAST: Iraqi authorities have issued an arrest warrant for a Kurdish politician at the center of last year’s failed independence bid, an administration source said.

TECHNOLOGY: An Azerbaijani court is due to hear an appeal filed by RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service against the authorities’ move to block its website citing “national security concerns.”

TOP STORY

Afghanistan: Suicide bombing in Kabul targets gathering of top clerics.

At least eight people died in the attack, with the number expected to climb.

The gathering of over 2,000 top clerics from across the country had met to denounce the Taliban and years of violence.

During the session before the attack, the council had issued a fatwa, or religious decree, condemning suicide bombings as a tactic.

This attack marks one more in a series of insurgent strikes in Kabul that have increased dramatically in recent months, following the Taliban’s declaration of the new “fighting season.”

In this case, it is still unclear whether the attacker was a member of the Taliban, or ISIS.

Kenya: President Kenyatta shut down both sides of a debate on possible changes to the country’s constitution, citing post-election stability as priority. (Xinhua)

Libya: A woman was killed and five other civilians were wounded in an attack on a police station near Ajdabiya that was claimed by ISIS militants. (AFP)

Nigeria: At least 13 people were killed in two separate attacks in central Benue state, an area wracked by clashes between Christian farmers and nomadic cattle herders. (AFP)

AMERICAS

Region: Economic adviser Larry Kudlow said trade frictions between the United States and Canada are a “family quarrel,” despite concerns expressed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. (Reuters)

Guatemala: An estimated 25 people, including at least three children, were killed and nearly 300 injured in the most violent eruption of Fuego volcano in more than four decades. (Reuters)

Venezuela: The head of the Truth Commission of the National Constituent Assembly, Delcy Rodriguez, announced the release of 40 inmates convicted for political violence in recent years, including three lawmakers. (EFE)

ASIA

Region: Nobel Prize winning anti-nuclear campaign group ICAN offered to pay for the cost of the historic summit between Kim Jong Un and President Trump. (Reuters)

China: US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said trade talks have been “friendly and frank” as the US continued with a second day of negotiations in Beijing. (AFP)

Japan: Finance Minister Taro Aso has taken a voluntary one-year salary cut after 20 officials were penalized for tampering with documents related to a government property sale linked to the Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s wife. (AP)

North Korea: The country’s top three military officials have been removed from their posts, a move analysts said could support efforts by the young leader to tighten control on the army ahead of a summit with the US. (Reuters)

EUROPE

France: Paris police began evacuating around 1,000 migrants from two makeshift camps in the city, five days after another 1,000 were taken to temporary lodgings. (AFP)

Germany: More must be done to strengthen to the architecture of the Eurozone, Chancellor Angela Merkel said, giving a new push for reforms to the currency union ahead of an EU summit this month. (DPA)

Italy: New hardline interior minister Matteo Salvini said that “common sense” was needed to stop the country from becoming “Europe’s refugee camp” as he visited a migrant center in the south. (AFP)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: A senior Iranian military official ruled out the possibility of withdrawal of Iranian military advisors from Syria. (Xinhua)

Iraq: Judicial authorities have issued an arrest warrant for a Kurdish politician at the center of last year’s failed independence bid, an administration source said. (AFP)

Israel: The military struck Hamas militant sites in Gaza in response to the resumption of rocket fire toward Israel, which threatened to unravel an informal cease-fire that had held since a flare-up of violence last week. (AP)

Jordan: King Abdullah II summoned Prime Minister Hani al-Mulki to the royal palace for a meeting that could pave the way for his resignation, following days of mass protests against austerity measures across the country. (AFP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Communication: An Azerbaijani court is due to hear an appeal filed by RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service against the authorities’ move to block its website citing “national security concerns.” (RFE-RL)